ETHICAL DILEMMA CASE STUDY

ANDY, ILIANA, SERENA, VERONIKA

 CASE
"You receive a report that DJ, (a 17-year-old male student with Autism and an IEP)
has been following a group of boys around school during lunch and after school.
One of the boys who he follows reported that DJ started showing up at his after-
school Water Polo matches and he sits on the stands and watches him. A
different boy in the same group reported that DJ lives near him, and he has
noticed that DJ has been hanging out outside of his home (after school hours)
more than usual. The group of boys have not confronted DJ and shared they are
beginning to feel “creeped out” with the situation. They came to you for guidance.
Would you need to step in and act on this situation considering no harm has been
done? What might your first course of action be? Who may you consult with?
How would you help support the well-being of all students involved?"
 DEFINE THE PROBLEM
A GROUP OF STUDENTS FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE WITH DJ AS
THEY BELIEVE HE IS FOLLOWING THEM
STUDENTS HASN’T DONE ANYTHING THAT DEPICTS
FORESEEABLE OR IMMEDIATE HARM
DILEMA HAPPENS AT AN AFTER-SCHOOL EVENT AND OUT
OF SCHOOL

POTENTIAL FACTORS:
WORLDVIEW
POWER DYNAMICS
 ASCA ETHICAL STANDARDS
A.1 A.10 A.14
Involve diverse networks
of support, including but Recognize the strengths Consider the student’s
not limited to of students with developmental age,
educational teams, disabilities as well as language skills, home
community and tribal their challenges and language and
agencies and partners, provide best practices in competence level when
wraparound services and supporting their determining an
vocational rehabilitation academic, career and assessment’s
services as needed to social/emotional needs. appropriateness
best serve students.
 ACA CODE OF ETHICS
A.2.C. D.1.E. I.1.B.

Developmental and Ethical Decision

Confidentiality
Cultural Sensitivity Making
CONSULT WITH APPROPRIATE
PROFESSIONALS
School Psychologist
SPED Teacher
Paraprofessional
CONSIDER THE STUDENT’S CHRONOLOGICAL
AGE AND DEVELOPMENTAL LEVEL
DJ IS 17 YEARS OLD AND WE DO NOT KNOW
THE CHRONOLOGICAL
DEVELOPMENT LEVEL
AGE AND
IS UNCERTAIN IN TERMS
DEVELOPMENTAL
OF WHERE HE IS ON LEVEL OF THE GROUP
THE SPECTRUM OF BOYS
CONSIDER PARENTAL/GUARDIAN AND STUDENT RIGHTS
STUDENT RIGHTS:
STUDENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO ATTEND
AFTERSCHOOL EVENTS.

PARENTAL/GUARDIANS RIGHTS:
PARENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT THEIR
CHILD IS ENGAGED WITH AFTERSCHOOL.
 APPLY THE MORAL PRINCIPALS
Autonomy Beneficence Justice Nonmaleficence Loyalty
(promoting (Remaining
(promoting good for (Providing equal (Avoid doing harm)
student’s ability to others) treatment to all connected to the
choose their own students)
parties) Not putting them in
direction)
How do we allow DJ
the same room Following up with
to be freely Meet with DJ and
DJ has a right to be together the group of students
independent? the group of boys
at after-school regarding their
events and can
separately assess
Be confidential concerns and let
choose where he How do we make the the situation
them know their
goes in his group of boys feel
concerns were taken
neighborhood. more comfortable?
seriously

Group of boys have a

right to feel
uncomfortable
 DETERMINING THE POTENTIAL COURSES OF ACTION AND CONSEQUENCES
Course of Action #1

Consequences:
Call both DJ and the Have a meeting Tell DJ to stop -Not loyal to both
group of boy’s with DJ and making the parties or
parents to group of boys group of boys confidential
determine what is to talk about uncomfortable -Could do further

going on what is harm with joint

meeting
happening
-DJ is now reluctant
to go to after-school
events
 Course of Action #2

Consequences:
Tell the group of Tell them to call the
Ignore the request -Group of boys feel
boys to inform police instead if DJ is invalidated by
of the boys, as there
the waterpolo outside his house counselor telling
is no clear or
coach next time again, because it is them to refer to
immediate danger consult with other
instead outside of school
property and school personnel
-Police can escalate
jurisdiction
the situation and not
know the special
needs of DJ
 Course of Action #3

Consult with Meet with DJ and Assuming DJ just Check in with

stakeholders: use general wanted to make the group of
School language to ask friends, provide Tier boys after and
Psychologist about the situations, 2/3 interventions on periodically,
SPED Teacher protecting Healthy Friendships along with DJ
Paraprofessional confidentiality
EVALUATING COURSE OF ACTION #3
This selected action will allow us to:
Understand the thoughts and feelings of both
parties to this situation
Promote a safe and welcoming school
environment
Collaborate with other educators to promote
social skills relating to fostering healthy
relationships
 IMPLEMENTING COURSE OF ACTION #3
THIRD,
FIRST, FOLLOW UP WITH FOURTH,
CONSULT WITH
SECOND, MONITOR DJ
THE GROUP OF
THE SCHOOL
MEET WITH DJ BOYS TO EXPLAIN AND THE GROUP
PSYCHOLOGIST,
INDIVIDUALLY & THE OUTCOME OF BOYS IN THE
WITH OTHER REASSURE THEM FUTURE TO
SPECIAL
STAKEHOLDERS AND ENCOURAGE PREVENT ANY
EDUCATION OTHER EVENTS
THEM TO FOLLOW
TEACHER AND UP IF ANY OTHER
PARAEDUCATOR ACTIONS OCCUR